Glen_Scutt_870

I find John Farmer's column quite reasonable and seems to me represents a factual report on current American thinking. Actually, no one need take offense other than those who have an investment in being willfully blind.

Indeed, this country has come a long way in the last 30 years. I can remember giving a speech back in the 1970's to an all-white audience in a wealthy all-white suburb regarding veteran's benefits (and, yes, a few of them go to well-to-do folks as well). After I was done, a gentleman in the audience rose as asked me how I felt about all these 'black people' being taken into the army and learning how to 'use guns.'

In response, I asked my audience (about 60 people) how many of them currently had family members in the military. Not a single one raised their hand.

I continued by saying that I felt that it was wonderful that minority Americans were willing to join the military and defend all Americans, including the well-to-do folks in the suburbs who had such a superior life style. To their credit, at that time, the audience received my remarks in silence (no booing, et cetera). Later on, I was informed that the person asking the question was the then current mayor of this same suburb.

Control of schools is always a matter of interest, whether it be local, state, or even federal. However, the bottom line should be whether or not the students are being well educated.

Graduation rates and academic competency are reasonable gross measures of educational success. However, with graduation rates, care should be exercised to determine the degree to which the school system may be to blame. For example, every year in Newark there are students who do not live to graduate (although the family may be given a post humous diploma). Again, care should also be exercised in the selection of tests measuring student competency.

However, without accurate measurements (due to poor test selection, cheating, et cetera), a school system's success or failue can not be determined. Simply carrying on about "home rule" or "standardized testing" is neither helpful nor relevant.

dd. You are partly right. Of Course the student discussing the Finnish model dealt with parental involvement. However, there are 3 aspects that the 'system' does have direct control over: (1) Security within and around the schools, (2) the condition/cleanliness of the facilities, and (3) the adequacy of the instructional staff. All three of these items depend on available financial resources.

One major roadblock to responsive parental involvement is the large number of unwanted children, largely birthed by young single mothers. These children grow up to make up more than three-quarters of our prison population. There is an obvious need to promote birth control and provide for abortions on demand. Unwanted children are often not properly socialized and are responsible for most violent, anti-social behavior.

Not really true. Most of the shooters and most of the shot tend to be gang members fighting over drug sales. Unfortunately, there is some collateral damage and kids/civilians get shot as well, but the danger can be overstated.

Most folks who live in Newark work, at real jobs. There is an unemployment problem that particularly affects young males, and therein lies one cause of our ongoing fireworks. Other causes include lack of supervision (due to lack of fathers, lack of time and or interest on the part of mothers) as well as a frayed 'safety net' that seems to provide less and less in terms of food, shelter, welfare, and so forth.

One underlaying cause is the lack of readily available birth control for many which results in unwanted births...which inevitably contributes to our crime and incarceration costs, both socially and financially. The policies of the Roman Catholic Church and the attacks on the Planned Parenthood foundation are partly responsible for the number of unwanted births.

The cheating is not being done by the students. Think a minute, the students did not know the answers in the first place. It is being done by the adult staff, including teachers and administrators. The tests are being used to evaluate the schools and their instruction.

Ah, not to take one's eye off the ball, or anything, but if public school 41 is so dangerous for children, why are any kids attending there? It is perfectly reasonable that parents be concerned about the welfare of their own children, of course. However, what seems to be lacking in Jersey City is any general concern for everyone's children, which would normally be a characteristic of any public school system. No?

Warren Buffett is a patriotic, intelligent American. He has already committed most of his wealth to charity.

By comparison, Christy is a piece of self-centered _____________(you fill in the blank) out to accumulate money and political power. It is not clear whether or not Christy has ever actually served his country. What is clear is that Christy has served himself, and his friends, quite well.

Yep, lots of action downtown today. I walked a couple miles along Broad St. Lots of folks just hanging around, apparently with nothing to do. One poor soul got hit crossing Broad Street around noon. Perhaps cars should be made larger so they are easier to spot? Beside visiting Prudential Center, I stopped by the Board of Education. Seems that Newark no longer has a GED program. Guess we already have all the education that we can handle? Hmmm.

Codey did a pretty good job last time he was Governor. He has long had a genuine interest in the mentally ill, the homeless, et al. These folks normally NEVER vote. And, frankly, most voters do not think about the most unfortunate of us all. His concern for these people may well fail to help him garner votes; however, if there is a heaven, I like Codey's chances. I also respect his courage for spending a night in a shelter, albeit a superior one.

Yep. Undoubtedly The Inquirer has a bit to answer for....with the issue’s cover captions detailing that Whitney was buried in “in her favorite purple dress,” gold slippers and “jewelry worth $500,000,” I would not be surprised but what Home Depot has sold some shovels lately. We have had a number of graves desecrated in this area during the past few years by religious folks look for body parts. Nothing like a good rumor of a $500,000 payoff to motivate folks. Look what happened to most of the Egyptian tombs over the years. Perhaps the Houston family and Whigham's should file a joint law suit, $40,000,000 seems about right.

Relax, everybody! It is an election year. It would seem that Ras Baraka would like to be mayor. It would seem our mayor would like to be governor. It would seem that our governor would like to be Vice President.

Everything clear?

Meanwhile, Newark could do (and has done) worse than Booker for mayor, Baraka for Councilman, and Christy for governor. Our problem would seem to a drug problem (sales) that supports our other problem (gangs). Perhaps we should take a long look at the sources, drug sales. Of course that would mean that we would end up locking up a lot of nice suburban drug customers in our Newark city jail. That would mean that "takebackusa11" and "fatray" could come to Newark to visit their neighbors and, perhaps, to dine at one of our nice restaurants. Such an increase in tourism here in town might be very benefical. :-)

Well, looking back, Jim Florio was a pretty good governor. He was a Democrat that was economically responsible. 'Course he was crucified for raising taxes (which needed to be done). Other governors (Whitman, McGreevy) simply played accounting games that put us in the hole we are in today with unfunded pensions. Our current governor actually wants to cut expenditures (unless they adversely affect the wealthy or his own political supporters). So, he is not all that bad. We have had worse, certainly. It does say something that in retrospect, Florio looks good.

Just another good argument for a national data base and national ID cards. Deals with illegal immigrant problem (a control over employment), helps a lot with terrorism, drug gangs, voter fraud. Guess what is happening in Sierra Leone in 2012(